Refrigerating system



June 3, 1941. E. J. HERMANN 2,243,958

REFRIGERATING -SYSTEM Filed Jan. 2, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l June 1941- E.J. HERMANN 5 REFBIGERATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 2, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 LI 3mm June 1941' E. J. HERMANN 2,243,958

REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 2, 1941 3 SheetsSheet 3 Patented June 3,1941 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The improved refrigeration systemcomprising the present invention is primarily adapted for use inconnection with food storage and display cabinets of the type which areordinarily employed for storing and preserving fresh produce .such asvegetables, meat and the like, and for displaying the same as well asfor permitting ready access thereto. Accordingly the invention has beenillustrated in connection with an otherwise conventional self-serving orreach-in type of cabinet. The refrigeration system is susceptible,however, to modification and the same may readily be applied to varioustypes and styles of refrigerator chests, boxes, cabinets and the like,

whether the same be employed for preserving,

displaying and dispensing articles or quantities of edible produce orflowers, greens or other articles of commerce which it is desired tomaintain in I a refrigerated or cool humid condition.

Heretofore in refrigeration or air conditioning systems employing arefrigerating chamber or space, it has been customary to continuouslycondition a qua'ntitymf air and to pass the conditioned air through thespace or chamber, while at the same time exhausting the spent or con- 2taminated air to the atmosphere at a point remote from the chamber orspace. Such a procedure has been costly in operation not only because ofcontinuous cold losses but in addition it results 'in actual foodmoisture loss with its attendant spoilage of the food or other productundergoing refrigeration. Attempts to recirculate such air have notproven successful inasmuch as recirculation results in contamination ofone product by the odors given off from another product in the samecompartment or chamher.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above-noted objectionsthat have been attendant upon the construction and use of present 40 dayrefrigerating systems and toward this end contemplates the provision ofa system wherein the principle of recirculation may be utilized withoutthe necessity of cooling and otherwise conditioning large quantities offresh air, while tion, another object thereof is to provide a system ofthe character set forth above which will maintain a constant even lowtemperature throughout the produce-containing compartment to minimizebacteriological growth or food decay, while at the same time maintaininga similarly even high relative humidity to reduce desiccation of thefood products.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a refrigeratedfood cabinet wherein a steady uniform circulation of' air is maintainedin the food compartment, while at the same time provision is made forwashing the air and removing impurities therefrom so that clean freshrefrigerated humid air is constantly applied over the food products insuch a manner that discoloration is reduced to a' minimum while also theori inal crispness of the product is preserved, thus reducing trimminglosses and improving the appearance of the products.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a refrigeration systemof this character wherein provision is made for thoroughly washing therecirculated air and for efliciently removing the contaminatedconstituents thereof without appreciable loss of refrigerated air andwith natural replacement of whatever refrigerated air may be lost in thesystem.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator systemwhich possesses all of the features enumerated above and which inaddition is entirely accessible forcleaning purposes both as regards theinterior of the food chamber or compartment and as regards themechanical parts thereof including the cooling coils, pipes,

air conduits, the actuating motor and the like,

thus eliminating the usual deposition of bacterial and inert slime whichis so commonly deposited over the working parts of refrigerating systemsof this type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigeratingcabinetwhich is convertible from a closed position wherein therefrigerated com-.

modities are not accessible for dispensing purposes yet are visible fordisplay purposes, to an open position wherein they are both visible anddispensible, the cabinet having associated therewith a refrigeratingsystem which may be maintained in operation in either position of thecabinet and which will function efliclently in either case toefliciently cool and humidify the produce compartment and the contentsthereof.

The provision of a refrigerating cabinet of the type set forth abovewhich is extremely attractive in its appearance; one which is compact inits design yet which has ample capacity considering the floor spaceoccupied;'one which is comparatively light weight and consequently notcumbersome; one which is possessed of a minimum. number of moving partsand which is therefore unlikely to get out of order; one which of it,are further desirable features that have been borne in mind in theproduction and development of the present invention.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention, not at this timeenumerated, will become readily apparent as the nature of the inventionis better understood.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings forming a part of thisspecification, one preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Inthese drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a selfserving or reach-in typeof refrigerating cab-' inet constructed in accordance with the of thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof. Figure 3 is an end elevational view ofthe principles cabinet.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 ofFigure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 ofFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 ofFigure 4.

In all of the above-described views, like characters of reference areemployed to designate like parts throughout.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the improved refrigerationsystem is shown as being incorporated in a convertible cabinet ll) ofthe self-serving or reach-in type designed for use in displaying foodproducts suchas fresh vegetables and other greens, fresh meats, fish andthe like, but it is to be distinctly understood that if desired thesystem may be installed in other types of cabinets such as floristsdisplay stands and the like.

The cabinet l0 involves in its general organization a front wall l2(Figure 4), a rear wall l4, end walls l6 and I8 (Figures 1, 2 and 8), abottom wall 20, and a relatively narrow, overlying, ledgelike top wall22. The top wall 22 in conjunction with the front wall I2 provides anaccess opening 24 which is adapted to be closed by means of slidingtransparent panel or window elements 26. Thus, in the type of cabinetwith which the invention is illustrated, the commodity orobjectsupporting surfaces thereof are contained wholly within a coolingzone 21 which may at will be opened to the atmosphere so that suchcommodities are instantly accessible for inspection, for handling or forotherwise working upon. Toward this end a series of removable racks 28are provided in the upper regions of the cabinet and are preferablyinclined forwardly and downwardly as shown in Figure, 4 for convenientdfls play of the commodity.

The front wall l2 may. include a series of hinged door members 23 in thelower regions of the cabinet as well as a double walled glass panelsection 25 in the upper regions thereof and upon which the windowelement 25 is in part supported.

The arrangement of parts thus far described -are,more or lessconventional in their design characteristics and no claim is made hereinto any novelty associated with the exterior shape of the cabinet or withthe arrangement of the shelving employed in the upper regions of thetion 42 to the collecting sump 60.

cabinet. Broadly, the invention consists in the provision of such acabinet or stand having means for maintaining the displayed commodity orsupported objects in a relatively cool humid condition by means of aprotective heat insulating medium of cold humid air which does notinterfere with the direct handling and inspection I of the displayedcommodity. In other words, the invention consists in substantiallysurrounding the displayed commodity with a circulating blanket ofrelatively cold humid air.

Referring now to Figure 4, it will be seen that the various cabinetwalls Ill, l2, l4, etc., are of insulated construction, being preferablyformed of welded sheet metal which is so shaped as to provide inner andouter walls, between which there is enclosed a heat insulating medium 30which may be glass wool or the like. Similarly the doors l3 may be ofwelded and insulated sheet metal construction. Irrespective, however, ofthese details in the construction of the cabinet walls, the essentialfeatures of the invention are at all times preserved.

Still referring to Figure 4, a knock-down sheet metal conduitconstruction or assembly 32 is positioned adjacent the rear wall l4 andis substantially coextensive therewith. The conduit construction 32includes upper and lower removable panel sections 34 and 36,respectively, and a permanent rear panel 38 providing therebetween anupper conduit section 40 and a lower coilenclosing conduit section 42.

The upper end of the assembly 32 terminates in an elongated transverselyextending and generally cylindrical humidifying chamber 44 which extendscompletely across the cabinet from one end wall to the other. Thechamber 44 includes a tubular casing 41 which is formed with anelongated slot 49 adjacent the top thereof and with a similar slot 5|adjacent its bottom. An outer semi-cylindrical curved plate 53 isdisposed exteriorly of the casing 41 and carries an upper series ofoutlet openings or nozzles 46 normally in register with the slot 49 anda lower series of nozzles normally in register with the slot 5!. Theplate 53 is designed for sliding movement on the casing 41 and towardthis end a pair of annular clamping bands 55 (see Figure 5) are aflixedto the plate 53 adjacent its ends and encircle the tubular casing 41.From the above description it will be seen that the plate 53 may beadjusted on the tubular casing 41 in such a manner as to vary theangularity of the upper and lower series of nozzles 49, 5| respectively.

It is to be noted that the casing 41 is formed with an elongated slot oropening 5! at the rear thereof by means of which the chamber 44communicates with the upper conduit section 40. Moisture which may becondensed in the chamber 44 is adapted to overflow the lower edge of theslot 51 and drain downwardly through the upper conduit section 40 .andlower conduit sec- Additional means however is provided for draining thechamber 44 as will appear presently.

The lower conduit section 42 has mounted therein in any suitable manneraseries of cooling coil elements 48 including individual radiating unitswhich are traversed in serpentine fashion by the actual coil tubing 52.The in- Wardly through the conduit construct on to the and directlyoverlie a drip pan or sump 60 from which accumulated moisture may bewithdrawn by means of a sump drain pipe 62. The drain pipe 62communicates with a vertical header 64 arranged exteriorly of thecabinet and the upper end of the header 64 enters through the rear wallof the cabinet at the 'top thereof as at 66 and establishescommunication with the bottom wall of the humidifying chamber 44 fordrainage purposes.

The means for circulating air through the cool-- ing zone 21 and conduitsections 40, 42 is best illustrated in' Figure 4 and includes a bloweror fan assembly 68 including an electric motor and fan proper 12, thewhole being supported from a bracket 14. The fan 12 is disposed within arestricted portion or air passage 16 (Figure 5) which exists between theupper and lower conduit sections 40 and 42 and serves to transfer airwhich has been cooled by thecoil elements 48 in the conduit section 42to the conduit section 40 for conduction to the humidifying compartment44.

Water for humidifying purposes is supplied to the humidifyingcompartment or chamber 44 by means of a spray pipe 18 which extendsaxially of the humidifying compartment 44 and which is provided with aseries of outlet apertures 80 along the length thereof.

Water supply pipes 84 and 86 (Figures 1 and 2) communicate with thewater main (not shown) and enter the cabinet through the walls l6 and I8and lead to a, pair of water cooling coils 88 and 90, respectively,positioned in the compartment at each end thereof adjacent the bottom ofthe cabinet.

wardly along the rear wall H to the spray pipe '18 at the ends thereof.Valves 8! may be provided outside of the cabinet walls for cutting oifthe water supply when desired. These valves may be manually controlledor, if desired, they may be suitably and operatively connected in ahumidostat control system including a humidostat 98 mounted within thecabinet in the cooling zone Zl.

In order to efi'ectively illuminate the cabinet and provide anattractive display for the food or other commodities on the shelves 28,a flourescent -high. 1

. In order to permit segregation and removal of the various productsundergoing display,-wirebasket-like containers I02 may be disposed onthe shelves Zlibetween adjacent partitions.

In the operation and use of the improved display cabinet, water whichcirculates through the coils '88 and 80 in' the bottom end regions ofthe cabinet is given ample time to become thoroughly 1 chilled prior toits conduction to the humidifying chamber 44. Such pre-cooling of thewater is made possible by virtue of the fact that these coils as well asthe'entire extent of the vertical The coils 88 and 90 communi-- 'catewith respective risers 92 and 94 leading upriser 92 and 84 leadingtherefrom are wholly contained within the confines of the cabinet andalso the fact that release of the water into the humidifying chamber 44from the spray pipe 18 is gradual.

Moistcoolair released from the chamber 44 and distributed over the foodor other products undergoing display descends upon these products andenvelopes them in a protective insulating blanket which is of acontinually changing nature. After the air has descended into the lowerregions of the ,cabinet it is forcibly drawn into the lower conduitsection 42 where it comes into contact with the cooling coils 48 and iseffectively cooled thereby. Any moisture which is shed atthis point iscollected in the sump G0 and is effectively conducted from the cabinetthrough the'drain-pipe 62.

Any absorbed odor-bearing gases which may have been removed from thefood products are thus eifectively removed by a thorough washing of therecirculating air and by condensation of the moisture employed for thuswashing the air. In this manner the air which enters the upper conduitsection 40 is free from all odors and is in a relatively dry condition.As this air enters the compartment 44 it is again rendered humid bycommingling with the water issuing from the pipe 18 and is at the propercondition of humidity and temperature for maintaining the food productsenvelopedin the protective blanket of circulating air.

It is to be noted that because of the removable panel sections of theupper and lower conduit sections In and 42 access may readily be had tothe cooling coil units, the drip pan or sump 60 and the blower assembly68. The racks 28 being removable permit ready access to the lowerregions of the cabinet for the purpose of cleaning the same as well asthe circulating coils 88 and 90.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of partsshown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification asvarious changes in the details of the cabinet construction may beresorted" to in order to accom-' modatedifferent food or other productswhich are to be. refrigerated and displayed. The in- ,vention is to belimited only within the scope of the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is: d

1. In a self-serving refrigerator of the class described, a cabinetincluding front and rear walls, end walls and a bottom, said wallsproviding a .display opening at the top of the cabinet coextensivewiththe length thereof, a display surface disposed within the cabinet belowsaid open top and having openings therethrough to permit the passage ofcooled humidified air downwardly therethrough, means providing ahumidifying chamber adjacent the top of the cabinet and within the same,said chamber extending substantially the entire length of the cabinet,means establishing communication between the humidifying chamber and thespacewithin the cabinet existing above said display surface, meansforming a substantially vertical air conduit providing a. coolingchamber at the rear of the cabinet and extendin across the cabinetthroughout its entire length, cooling means disposed within saidconduit, means disposed within the conduit for impelling airtherethrough upwardly, means establishing communication between theconduit and the humidifying,chamber, there being an opening in theconduit adjacent the lower regions thereof communicating with theinterior of the cabinet, a cooling coil disposed in the cabinet adjacentthe bottom thereof, means for supplying water to said coil, and meansestablishing communication between the coil and the humidi-.

fying chamber.

2. In a self-serving refrigerator of the class described, a cabinetincluding front and rear walls, end walls and a bottom, said wallsproviding a display opening at the top of the cabinet coextensive withthelength thereof, a display surface disposed within the cabinet belowsaid open top and having openings therethrough to permit the passage ofcooled humidified air downwardly conduit, means disposed within theconduit for impelling air therethrough upwardly, means establishingcommunication between the conduit and the humidifying chamber, therebeing an opening in the conduit adjacentthe lower regions thereofcommunicating with the interior of the cabinet, a cooling coil-disposedin the cabinet adjacent the bottom thereof, means for supplying water tosaid coil, means establishing communication between the coil and thehumidifying chamber, and means disposed within the humidifying chamberfor causing intimate admixture of the water with the air contained insaid chamber.

3. In a self-serving refrigerator of the class described, a cabinetincludin front and rear Walls, end walls and a bottom, said wallsproviding a display opening at the top of the cabinet coextensive withthe length thereof, a display surface disposed within the cabinet belowsaid open top and having openings therethrough to permit the passage ofcooled humidified air downwardly therethrough, means providing ahumidifying chamber adjacent the top of the cabinet and within the same,said chamber extending substantially the entire length of the cabinet,means establishing communication between the humidifying chamber and thespace within the cabinet existing above said display surface, meansforming a substantially vertical air conduit providing a cooling chamberat the rear of the cabinet and extending across the cabinet throughoutits entire length, cooling means disposed within said I conduit, meansdisposed within the conduit for ,impelling air therethrough upwardly,means establishing communication between the conduit and the humidifyingchamber, there being an opening in the conduit adjacent the lowerregions thereof communicating with the interior of the cabinet, a pairof cooling coils disposed in the cabinet adjacent the bottom thereof,each of said coils being positioned in close proximity to one end wallof the cabinet, means for supplying water to said coils, and meansestablishing communication between the coil and the humidifying chamber.

4., In a self-serving refrigerator of the class described, a cabinetincluding front and rear walls, end walls and a bottom, said wallsproviding a display opening at the top of the cabinet coextensive withthe length thereof, a display surface disposed within the cabinet belowsaid aaaaaee open top and having openings therethrough to permit thepassage of cooled humidified air downwardly therethrough, meansproviding a humidifying chamber adjacent the top of the cabinet andwithin the same, said chamber extending substantially the entire lengthof the cabinet, means establishing communication between the humidifyingchamber and the space within the cabinet existing above said displaysurface, means forming a substantially vertical air conduit providing acooling chamber at the rear of the cabinet and extending across thecabinet throughout its entire length, cooling means disposed within saidconduit, said conduit having sectional enclosing walls includingremovable sections whereby access may be had to the cooling means, meansdisposed within the conduit for impelling air therethrough upwardly,means establishing communication between the conduit and the humidifyingchamber, there being an opening in the conduit adjacent the lowerregions thereof communicating with the interior of the cabinet, acooling coil disposed in the cabinet adjacent the bottom thereof, meansfor supplying water to said coil, and means establishing communicationbetween the coil and the humidifyin chamber.

5. In a self-serving refrigerator of the class described, a cabinetincluding from and rear walls, end walls and a bottom, said wallsproviding a display opening at the top of the cabinet coextensive withthe length thereof, a display surface disposed within the cabinet belowsaid open top and having openings therethrough to permit the passage ofcooled humidified air downwardly therethrough, means providing ahumidifying chamber adjacent the top of the cabinet and within the same,said chamber extending substantially the entire length of the cabinet,means establishing communication between the humidii'ying chamber andthe space within the cabinet existing above said display surface, meansforming a substantially vertical air conduit providing a cooling chamberat the rear of the cabinet and extending across the cabinet throughoutits entire length, cooling means disposed within said conduit, saidconduit having sectional enclosing walls including removable sectionswhereby access may be had to the cooling means, means disposed withinthe conduit for impelling air therethrough upwardly, a drain sump.disposed within the conduit at the bottom thereof beneath said coolingmeans, means establishing communication between the conduit and thehumidifying chamber, there being an opening in the conduit adjacent thelower regions thereof communicating with the interior of the cabinet, acooling coil disposed in the cabinet adjacent the bottom thereof, meansfor supplying water to said coil, and means establishing communicationbetween the coil and the humidifying chamber.

6. In a self-serving refrigerator of the class described, a cabinetincluding front and rear walls, end walls and a bottom, said. wallsproviding a display opening at the top of the cabinet coextensively withthe length thereof, a transparent closure for said opening movable fromopen to closed positions and vice versa, 8. display surface disposedwithin the cabinet below said open top and having openings therethroughto permit the passage of cooled humidified air downwardly therethrough,means providing a humidifying a cooling chamber at the rear of thecabinet and extending across the cabinet throughout its entire length,cooling means disposed within said conduit, said conduit havingsectional enclosing walls including removable sections whereby accessmay be had to the cooling means, means disposed within the conduit forimpelling air therethrough upwardly, a drain sump disposed within theconduit at the bottom thereof beneath said cooling means, meansestablishing communication between the conduit and the humidifyingchamber; there being an opening in the conduit adjacent the lowerregions thereof communicating with the interior of the cabinet, acooling coil disposed in the cabinet adjacent the bottom thereof, meansfor supplying water to said coil,

and means establishing communication between the coil and thehumidifying chamber.

'7. In a refrigerator of the character described,

a cabinet. including enclosing walls providing a display openingextending along the upper end of the cabinet coextensively therewith, atransparent closure for said openin movable from open to closedpositions and vice versa, a humididisposed in said. cabinet below thelevel of said opening and positioned directly in the path 01 theprojected air, said shelves havingopenings therethrough for the passageof air therethrough, means for withdrawing air from the lower regions ofthe cabinet and for passing the same upwardly behind said shelves to thehumidifying cham ber for recirculation purposes, and direct heattransfercooling means for the recirculated air disposed in the path of movementof the air as it is moved upwardly.

EDGAR J. HERMANN.

